FIREFIGHTERS AND TROOPERS WORK OVER 2 HOURS IN NEAR 100 DEGREE HEAT TO SAVE VICTIMS OF CRASH

Jake Dominy (center) with the Livingston Fire Department crawled into the turned over 18-wheeler to help the passenger who was pinned inside.

Around 8:30 a.m. on July 6, 2016, an 18 wheeler logging truck, driven by Alan Dwight Johnson, 32, of Livingston, was west-bound on FM-943 (a few miles from 146). Johnson apparently entered and came out of a curve too fast. His passenger’s side tires left the pavement to the right. When Johnson tried to correct, the pavement (slightly elevated) forced his loaded 18 wheeler to leave the pavement further. This caused his load to shift and the rig turned over losing its load of large pine trees. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Segno and Livingston Volunteer Fire Departments, Deputy Rey Davalos with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Troopers Nick Hatton, Corporal Ramey Bass, and Sergeant Sam Lattner with the Texas Highway Patrol. Johnson was pulled from the wreckage and loaded onto an ambulance. His passenger, Zulma Santiago, 26, of Livingston was unable to come out as her left leg was severely pinned in the wreckage. Firemen used the Jaws-of-Life to get the door open and get inside with Santiago. Once inside the firemen had to remove one of the seats to get Santiago. Due to the severity of the entrapment, it took nearly two hours to free Santiago. Amazingly, she had no major injuries. Both were transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital. All traffic on 943 was blocked during investigation and the lengthy cleanup. Alan Johnson was cited for failure to maintain a single lane of traffic. A heavy duty wrecker from Riley Wrecker Service out of Corrigan cleaned up the mess.

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The heroic efforts of the firemen saved Santiago’s left leg. Though she was in a lot of pain, Santiago was able to wiggle all her toes.

After nearly 2 hours of urgent work, the firemen were finally able to free Santiago.Santiago communicated that she was having a hard time breathing. The firemen were able to get an oxygen mask to her (Sergeant Sam Lattner holds the oxygen bottle).The firemen had to remove the driver’s seat to get to Santiago.Firemen used the Jaws-of-Life as Corporal Ramey Bass used a pry bar to eventually get the door open so that firemen could get to the trapped passenger, 26 year old Zulma Santiago.An 18 wheeler logging truck, driven by 32 year old Alan Johnson, of Livingston, turned over on FM-943.